Many of us feel there isn't enough time in the day to accomplish what we wish to do, and I'm no stranger to that feeling. However, I have found there are two things I do that make my days and weeks progress more smoothly.
First -- I start almost every morning with 30 minutes of silence, taking time to meditate, to do some yoga, to focus and acknowledge 2 or 3 specific things for which I am grateful. (This practice is abbreviated on the days I leave home at 6:30 AM to drive to a hiking destination and then the work day.) During this time I usually watch night turn into day, and end this time period by standing up and declaring, "something wonderful will happen to me today."
I am now energized and focused, ready to tackle my daily plan and get to work, efficiently and happily.
Second, every Sunday I take time to prepare my "to do" list for the upcoming week (my week runs Mon-Sun) This plan includes all aspect of my life, business, family and personal. It includes the specific time-sensitive appointments of the week as well as items taken from my quarterly and yearly business plan. To add an element of fun (as well as encouragement to complete some of the boring items we all must do) I "reward" myself if I accomplish 90% or more of my items. Rewards are often small and inexpensive -- like, "30 minutes of pleasure reading in a park" or "home spa hour." Perhaps once a quarter it will be a larger treat, like a day at a nearby spa facility where I soak in the meditation pool for hours!
To make sure those items aren't overlooked, they get put into my daily calendar, where I take great delight in crossing off completed items on the page as well as the weekly calendar.
Consistency with these practices is the determining factor whether or not they work. I've got the weekly and daily pages down and can't imagine not doing these. The first one, taking 30 or minutes of silent reflection time, is not yet completely ingrained, but it's getting closer.
If you haven't yet joined in Grant Schneider's October challenge on Time Management, you might wish to do so. Perhaps what you share is exactly what will help someone else.
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